Chapter 1

It was Natalie Sullivan's last day as Mrs. Lynch.

Committed to her role, Natalie was up early. After she freshened up, she took a warm, damp towel and entered Samuel Lynch's room.

In the spacious room, he lay on the bed, eyes closed, his body thin and frail. Yet, even in his sleep, his striking looks were undeniable.

Samuel had a prominent nose and thin lips. A small mole under his left eye gave his face a defiant sharpness.

Natalie glanced at him before beginning her routine. She carefully wiped his face and hands before turning him around to clean his broad back.

Yes, Samuel was in a vegetative state.

Two years ago, a car accident left him in a coma. In desperation, Samuel's grandmother, Dorothy Palmer, had turned to a psychic.

Dorothy was told that marrying him to a woman with a compatible astrological sign might change his fate. She promised any woman willing to marry Samuel five million dollars after two years, regardless of the outcome.

Natalie's boyfriend, Christopher Ladkin, happened to work at the Lynch Group. Upon hearing the news, he was surprised to discover that Natalie's astrological sign was a perfect match.

And so, the most absurd scene unfolded.

Christopher had knelt before Natalie, crying as he begged her to become Mrs. Lynch.

"Look, Samuel is in a coma. So, you'll just be his caregiver for two years. And you know I got tricked into owing a huge gambling debt. If I can't pay it, I'm going to jail. Surely you can't just stand by and watch my life fall apart?" said Christopher.

He then declared, "Nat, please help me out. I swear, from today on, I'll quit gambling. After two years, you can divorce him, and we'll get married right away!"

Natalie and Christopher had grown up together in an orphanage. Back then, she was in poor health and was often bullied, but he was always there to protect her. They relied on each other so much that it was fitting to say they were each other's sole support.

Before Christopher became involved with gambling, he was an intelligent and ambitious young man with a promising future.

They had supported each other through tough times and had many fond memories together. Hence, Natalie couldn't bring herself to refuse him.

As Natalie prepared to leave the room, she stood by the bed and whispered to Samuel, "Goodbye, Mr. Lynch. I hope you recover soon."

With that, she stepped out of Samuel's room.

Almost instantly, Natalie felt a wave of relief washing over her. It was as if the heavy weight that had been pressing down on her for the past two years had finally been lifted. She was free at last.

…

As Natalie descended the stairs, she ran into Wendy Zimmerman. The latter carried a tray of food and was on her way to feed Samuel.

"Oh, Ms. Sullivan, you're leaving today, aren't you?" Wendy asked.

The corners of Natalie's lips curled into a faint smile as she nodded. "Yes, Wendy. But I promise I'll visit often."

Once she reached the first floor and began packing her bags, she suddenly heard a commotion upstairs. It sounded like something had shattered.

Moments later, Wendy dashed down the stairs in a panic, yelling, "Mr. Lynch is awake! Quick, get the doctor and Mrs. Lynch Senior!"

Upon hearing those words, the towel in Natalie's hand fell to the floor with a thud. She stood rooted to the spot, her mind blank for a moment.

It was the day of her divorce, yet Samuel had woken up.

…

Over the next few days, the house was bustling with activity. Several doctors stayed at the Lynch residence to look after Samuel.

Samuel's awakening was a huge deal, and no one had the time to deal with Natalie. Feeling awkward, she remained in her room, extending her stay by another two days.

She tried several times to talk to Dorothy about the divorce. However, seeing her so thrilled and busy, Natalie didn't know how to broach the subject.

On the third day, a doctor suddenly approached her and said, "Mrs. Lynch, your husband wants to see you."

Husband… It took Natalie a moment to realize that the doctor was referring to Samuel. Though she had cared for him for two years, they had never actually spoken to each other.

So, Natalie nodded and followed the doctor.

The curtains in the room were drawn, and only a single dim lamp lit the space.

Samuel lazily leaned against the headrest. His entire figure was engulfed in the dimness, making it impossible to read his expression.

Natalie hesitated at the door. Now that he was awake, he seemed like a different person. His mere presence carried a subtle air of oppressiveness.

"What are you waiting for? Come over here," Samuel instructed suddenly. His voice was low and raspy, grating at her eardrums.

Natalie's heart raced as she moved closer. For some reason, she was scared and nervous.

"M-Mr. Lynch," she stammered.

Samuel looked up, scrutinizing Natalie with an icy gaze. So, this was the woman Dorothy chose to change his fate.

At that moment, Natalie was wearing a simple blue dress. The color accentuated her fair skin. Her timid demeanor and round eyes reminded Samuel of a cat he once had as a child.

He couldn't deny that she was beautiful and demure. He was convinced that Dorothy had been fooled by Natalie's seemingly innocent face. That was why his grandmother had chosen a fraudster to bring him luck, making Natalie Mrs. Lynch for two years.

Samuel reached out, picked up a document from the bedside table, and handed it to Natalie. "Take a look."

Natalie hurriedly took over the document. As soon as she glanced down, she saw the bold black letters on the paper. It was a divorce agreement.

Her face lit up with joy, and she let out a sigh of relief. She nodded eagerly and said, "No problem, Mr. Lynch."

Samuel's lips curled into a faint smile, his pale face showing a hint of satisfaction at her willingness to comply. After lying in bed for two years, he woke up to find that he had a gold digger of a wife.

Now, all Samuel wanted was to sort out this problem. He hummed lightly in acknowledgment and uttered, "Let's get the divorce done tomorrow."

Chapter 2

Samuel's words had barely settled when someone abruptly opened the bedroom door.

"Divorce?" Dorothy stormed into the room, fuming as she slammed the table. "This is nonsense! The psychic said that your astrological signs are perfectly aligned, and Nat can stabilize your condition."

"Now that you've finally woken up, what if you end up in a coma again after the divorce?"

Dorothy found Natalie to be gentle and demure. She had even agreed to marry into the Lynch family when Samuel was in a vegetative state.

Usually, Natalie managed everything herself, such as turning him over and wiping his body. Oftentimes, Dorothy couldn't bear to see her doing all this alone and suggested that Natalie let the household staff handle these chores.

However, Natalie always replied with a gentle smile, "It's fine, Grandma. Since I married Samuel, it's my duty to take care of him."

Dorothy genuinely liked Natalie. Moreover, her presence had actually awakened Samuel.

"Grandma—" Samuel called out helplessly.

Dorothy glared at him and snapped, "Be quiet!"

Then, she turned to smile at Natalie. "Nat, even though we initially agreed on two years, now that Sam has finally woken up, I think you should stay for a few more months. No, years."

Dorothy's eyes darted around. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.

She slammed her hand on the table again, saying, "You're the perfect age for each other. Why not continue as you are? After all, feelings grow from spending time together."

Natalie bit her lip awkwardly and replied, "Grandma, I can't stay."

Christopher was still waiting for her. Two years ago, they had agreed that after her divorce from Samuel, they would use the money to build a home for themselves.

Growing up an orphan, Natalie had always longed for a family of her own. And now, the two-year term was finally up.

Upon hearing those words, Dorothy shot Natalie an exasperated look. Was her granddaughter-in-law out of her mind?

Natalie had been willing to marry Samuel while he was sick. But now that he had finally recovered, why did she want to leave?

It seemed like this naïve girl hadn't realized what she was giving up. She was turning her back on becoming the wife of a billionaire and all the wealth that came with it!

Dorothy cast another quick look at her weak grandson, whose face remained icy. Seeing that neither seemed interested in building a relationship, she clutched her chest and began to cough.

"Oh dear, why am I suddenly feeling so lightheaded and short of breath? Am I about to pass out from anger? Someone, get the doctor!"

The household staff rushed to support Dorothy and frantically summoned the family doctor.

In no time, the villa descended into chaos. Although everyone knew Dorothy was probably faking it, they couldn't ignore the fact that she was getting on in years.

Moreover, the two years spent watching over Samuel while he was in a vegetative state had clearly drained her, leaving her too fragile to bear any more stress.

A cold glint flashed in Samuel's eyes when he glanced at Natalie. As he continued to stare at her, his expression became increasingly contemptuous.

No wonder she had agreed to his request so quickly. She had been waiting for this all along.

Natalie, on the other hand, didn't notice the look on Samuel's face. She was too concerned about Dorothy. After all, Dorothy had treated her well over the years, almost like a real grandmother.

Overwhelmed by worry, Natalie watched as the doctors helped Dorothy out of the room. Just as she was about to follow them, Samuel's voice rang out behind her.

"Natalie," he called out.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. Having just woken up, Samuel's face was still pale.

He slowly got out of bed and settled into the nearby wheelchair. His lips were colorless as he coughed lightly before saying, "Grandma will be fine. We need to talk."

Natalie's eyes were filled with confusion. What more could there be to discuss?

Yet, Samuel ignored her puzzled expression. He wheeled himself out of the bedroom and headed for the study. Natalie had no choice but to follow.

Despite being married for two years, she had never set foot in the study.

Samuel grabbed a bottle of wine from the shelf and poured the deep red liquid into a glass. The room was soon filled with the wine's sweet aroma.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked.

Natalie shook her head in response. After a moment's hesitation, she mustered the courage to add, "Mr. Lynch, you've just woken up. Perhaps you should limit your drinking."

The moment those words escaped her lips, Samuel's irritation became evident. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was just feigning concern.

"Since Grandma is old and cannot handle stress, I don't want to defy her. But this marriage…" Samuel's frustration briefly flashed across his eyes as he spoke. "It's better to end it now."

Natalie blinked repeatedly. What a strange man! She had already agreed to it, didn't she?

"Ten million dollars," Samuel offered.

With his slender, fair fingers, he wrote a generous sum on the check and handed it to Natalie.

"What?"

Natalie was momentarily stunned. She stared blankly at the check before her, overwhelmed by the many zeroes.

Samuel was growing weary of her act. He looked at her, his gaze mocking as he uttered, "Ms. Sullivan, you had a boyfriend when you agreed to marry me. Wasn't it all just for the money?"

Chapter 3

"I'll give you another ten million dollars to convince Grandma to agree to our divorce. Don't even think about playing games with me. I can deal with you easily," Samuel warned.

Natalie's face turned ashen at his words. His cold and menacing voice sent a shiver down her spine. It only took him two days to uncover everything about her.

Right then, it hit Natalie. This was Samuel, the youngest head of the Lynch family. He was also a ruthless man who ruled the business world.

Samuel had a reputation for being dangerous. He guarded the Lynch family's century-old legacy, regardless of the lives it cost him.

The Lynches stood strong for over 100 years and survived countless bloody battles. Samuel rose to power as the family's heir by eliminating his uncles, a testament to his cold-blooded and cunning nature.

Suddenly, silence enveloped the empty study.

After a while, Natalie pushed the check back and said, "I'll try to persuade Grandma, but you can keep the ten million dollars."

There was no way for her to clarify Samuel's misunderstanding. She had indeed married into the Lynch family for the five million dollars because she needed to save Christopher. She couldn't just watch him end up in prison.

However, this was a private matter between Natalie and Christopher. Hence, she had no reason to explain it to an outsider.

Natalie's eyelashes fluttered as she added softly, "Mr. Lynch, my reason for marrying you is personal. But you're right—There is someone I love, so I'm even more eager to get this divorce than you are."

Christopher had promised her that they would tie the knot once the two-year agreement was over. So, convincing Dorothy to agree to the divorce was something Natalie had planned to do anyway.

Upon hearing her statement, Samuel pursed his lips slightly, and his gaze grew colder.

According to his investigation, Natalie was an orphan who was easily swayed by money. She had left her childhood sweetheart and agreed to marry a comatose man for five million dollars.

Samuel had little respect for a woman like her. But now…

With his brows slightly furrowed, Samuel rested a hand on the wheelchair's armrest and nonchalantly replied, "Since this is the case, I hope you'll keep your word, Ms. Sullivan."

Once the conversation ended, Natalie practically ran back to her room. She buried herself under the covers, feeling anxious as she recalled what had just happened.

Fortunately, Samuel hadn't pushed the matter further. As long as she could get Dorothy to agree to their divorce, she would be able to leave the Lynch family and be with Christopher.

To ensure Natalie's marriage into the Lynch family went smoothly, Christopher had suggested they pretend to break up and not be in touch for two years. Once the period was over, they could reconnect.

With that in mind, Natalie took out her phone. After some hesitation, she nervously dialed the number she hadn't called in two years.

…

The phone rang twice before the call was abruptly ended.

"What's wrong?" Quincy Lawson emerged from the bathroom and glanced at the man standing by the window.

The sight of his tall, slender frame and elegant, handsome profile caused her heart to skip a beat.

Christopher snapped out of his reverie and answered, "It's nothing."

He then approached Quincy, took a towel, and dried her hair with practiced ease.

"I've told you so many times. You need to dry your hair completely. Otherwise, you'll catch a cold," Christopher gently reprimanded her, his face showing tender care.

Quincy frowned. She hesitated before turning to look at him. "Christopher, who called you? Have you been gambling again?"

"It was just a call from work," answered Christopher.

Seeing Quincy was still suspiciously eyeing him, he sighed and uttered helplessly, "Do you want to check my phone?"

"Forget it. I believe you." Quincy huffed.

After that, she placed a hand on her abdomen, her expression sweet and gentle. "You promised to visit my parents at the end of the month to discuss our wedding. Don't forget."

"How could I possibly forget that?" Christopher bent down to kiss Quincy on the cheek. "I've always wanted to provide a home for you and our baby."

Ever since Quincy became pregnant, she had been excessively sleepy. Once her hair was dried, she quickly retreated to the bedroom.

Christopher glanced at the closed door, and his gentle smile gradually vanished. He pulled out his phone to check it.

Aside from a slew of debt collection messages, there was only one missed call from an unknown number. It was Natalie. Two years had given him ample time to start a new life and forget that name.

Christopher no longer needed her—the woman who had supported him in the orphanage and later married into the Lynch family to clear his debts.

His gaze darkened. It was as if a ferocious beast was snarling and tearing through his gentle façade.

Christopher had worked his way up from nothing, enduring years of humiliation and hardship. Now, he was about to become the Lawsons' son-in-law. In the future, all their assets would belong to him.

Everything he had fought so hard to achieve was on the line, and he would never let anyone jeopardize it.

Christopher's grip on his phone tightened slowly. After a moment of silence, he returned the call.

His expression changed drastically as he listened to what Natalie had to say on the other end of the line. But in the end, it softened into a gentle smile. "Nat, the moment I've been waiting for has finally arrived."

Christopher hesitated briefly, then said, "But you can't divorce Samuel just yet."

Chapter 4

"Why?" Natalie asked in confusion. She bit her lip and added, "Didn't we agree that once I leave the Lynch family—"

"Of course, I'll wait for you, Nat." Christopher sighed. "But have you considered the consequences? If Samuel forces you to initiate the divorce and Mrs. Lynch Senior's health deteriorates because of it, you'll be held responsible.

"Besides, I've heard she still holds shares in the Lynch Group. Who's to say that Samuel isn't using you to get his hands on them?"

Natalie was momentarily stunned. She then quickly retorted, "No, he won't do that. Samuel loves his grandmother."

"Nat, you're too naïve. You don't understand what kind of person Samuel is. He's the one in control of the Lynch Group."

Thinking about what had happened in the study, Natalie's heart sank. She fell silent for a moment before asking softly, "What should I do now?"

Christopher thought about it and answered, "Don't bring up the divorce. Wait and see what happens."

Natalie couldn't help but feel a pang of grievance. She didn't want to be Mrs. Lynch or stay with the Lynches any longer.

As she recalled Christopher's gentle nature, she murmured, "I miss you."

Fearing that the Lynches might discover Natalie's marriage was a ruse and reclaim the money, she and Christopher had pretended to break up. They had not been in touch at all during these two years.

Christopher paused for a few seconds. His gaze was sharp and intimidating, like a predator ready to strike. Yet, his tone was unusually gentle.

"I miss you too, Nat. I've found a house for us. Once you leave the Lynch family, we'll purchase it. Remember how you always talked about wanting your own study, a space entirely yours? Well, I'll make sure to design the most beautiful and well-lit study for you.

"Nat, we've endured two years of this. We can't afford to make any mistakes now. Think of it as something for me, for us. Please just hang in there a little longer."

…

After ending the call, Natalie stared at the darkened screen. For some reason, she felt uneasy. But she quickly shook her head and dismissed the thought. She had known Christopher for over a decade, and they were the closest people to each other. How could she doubt him now?

Natalie believed that Samuel's threats had left her feeling paranoid.

…

Heeding Christopher's advice, Natalie hadn't brought up the divorce. At the same time, she was afraid that Samuel might cause trouble for her, so she had been hiding in her room for the past few days.

During lunch that day, she mustered the courage to ask about Samuel's whereabouts. Wendy gave her a surprised look and said, "Ms. Sullivan, don't you know? Mr. Lynch hasn't been around for the past two days. He's probably swamped with work."

It turned out that Samuel hadn't been home! Natalie sighed in relief, feeling somewhat silly for having stayed hidden.

Natalie felt much more at ease after learning that Samuel wasn't home.

While cleaning out her snack cabinet in the afternoon, she stumbled upon two bottles of sparkling wine. She reckoned they were probably promotional gifts from a recent supermarket promotion.

Natalie took a sip to try and was pleasantly surprised by the taste.

As she lounged on the couch, she drank sparkling wine and browsed through her photo album, which was filled with pictures of her and Christopher.

Natalie couldn't help but wonder when she would finally be with him.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps on the stairs. Groggy and disoriented, she saw a dark silhouette approaching slowly. Who was it? Was it Christopher?

Natalie jolted upright, her steps unsteady as she made her way over. However, her legs gave way, and she nearly fell.

Fortunately, the man was there to catch her. To his surprise, Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and muttered, "I miss you."

Samuel furrowed his brows in response. "Natalie, let go! Stop acting crazy!" he ordered coldly.

He hadn't anticipated Natalie to be even bolder than he had imagined. In the next second, her cool lips pressed against his. She was clumsy and inexperienced, but her lips were incredibly soft.

Although Samuel had been in a coma for the past two years, he was still aware of what was happening around him.

It was as if he were trapped in a dark cage. He couldn't see or speak, yet he could feel someone gently turning him and wiping his body, with a faint, pleasant fragrance lingering in his senses.

"I'm not crazy," Natalie murmured.

Samuel's gaze darkened. Then, he gripped her waist with such force it felt as though he might crush her.

"What's the matter? Have you had a change of heart? So you want to be Mrs. Lynch now?" His tone dripped with sarcasm as he spoke.

The pain in her waist brought Natalie back to her senses. As she focused on the man in front of her, a wave of shock surged through her. She immediately shoved him away. How could it be Samuel?

"Natalie, drop your act," Samuel uttered icily. His gaze was piercing, as if he could see right through her. "Don't think for a second that this will make you stay as Mrs. Lynch."

Natalie's face turned pale, her lips trembling as she struggled to explain herself. In the end, she panicked and fled to her room.

The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Natalie leaned against the door before slowly crouching down. She had mistaken Samuel for Christopher!

Her mind was in disarray, and she sat on the floor numbly. As the sky grew darker, Natalie heard a knock on the door.